Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith French.
Hi Meredith, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began as a dance studio owner in 2019. During Covid with all the uncertainty around us and having a passion for the dance and performing arts community, I began the process of pursuing non profit status. During that time, the studio was unable to recover due to the immediate and increasing costs and the financial loss of many of our families and the studio closed. My passion and belief remained that the community needed dance more than ever. I believed passionately that physical, mental, and emotional benefits that dance provides would be essential for healing and bring the community back together through dance and performance arts. Dance was a way to communicate when there were just no words for everything that we had experienced. In 2022, we received 501 c 3 status and I became the volunteer Executive Director of Woodlands Dance Theatre in 2023. In our 3rd season, we are more passionate about finding ways to make dance more accessible to everyone in our community regardless of age, technical ability, or financial status. We focus on providing a safe and nurtuting environment with the highest quality of instruction for our dancers. WDT has an end of season performance and performs throughout the community as often as possible throughout the season.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t know if there is ever really a smooth road when it comes to business and passion. As a 501 C 3, it is always a struggle to find sponsors and donors to help us grow our program. We rely on our numbers for 95% of our funding. Unfortunately, that number is always changing with the economy. We have been blessed to have a few community sponsors throughout the year. At the moment, almost all of the funding we receive goes to hiring and paying highly qualified instructors for all classes and then to providing reduced or full scholarships to our dancers who have financial burdens.
We would love to be able to put more funding toward equipment needed for additional class training, providing more outside opportunities for our dancers to gain experience by to workshops, masterclasses, and performances. We would also love the opportunity to host a dance festival locally and share more with our community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have had so many opportunities throughout my professional career that have brought me to this chapter of my life. I was a dancer growing up and have always loved performing arts whether it be choir, stage, or dance. After college, I found work wherever there were openings. From waiting tables, training and managing in restuarants, working for CPS in foster/adoption, and managing state contracts, I was able to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience. After having my children and being a stay at home mom, I realized that I wanted to have something to do that wouldn’t take me away from being with my family. As my daughter’s passion for dance grew, I realized that I wanted to provide a positive and nurturing environment for her and others to train with flexibility that would help build confidence and strength. I am very proud of the community that we have built where we can celebrate every dancer’s strengths and give them an opportunity to shine. Classes are intionally smaller so that each dancers receives individualized attention and support.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Dance is constantly evolving. With the introduction of online classes, social media, and instant gratification, it is changing how dancers are training in the studio. It has also shifted quite a bit with schools now offering dance classes, clubs, and training their dancers on campus rather than them training in local studios. My hope is that dance studios and companies will be able to find a balance and share with our communities the need for consistent and technical training not only for dancer safety and longevity of career but to highlight the beautiful artistry that is created from hard work and discipline.
Pricing:
- Drop In Classes $25
- Kids: Base class price $88 for one class which meets 4-5 times a month. There are multiclass discounts
- Adults: $45 a month for a single class membership
- Adults: $65 a month for unlimited access to adult classes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.woodlandsdancetheatre.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodlandsdancetheatre
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodlandsdancetheatre
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WoodlandsDanceTheatre
- Other: Tik Tok: @woodlandsdancetheatre
